Electric apparatus and power control method

ABSTRACT

In accordance with an embodiment, an electric apparatus is provided with a connection device configured to connect with an external power supply, a battery and a plurality of power load sections, and a controller programmed to select a supply destination of power of the external power supply from a plurality of the power load sections, and supply power of the battery to another power load section except the supply destination according to supply capacity of the external power supply connected with the connection device.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electric apparatusand a power control method.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there exists an electric apparatus capable of connectinga plurality of external power supplies, for example, an AC adapter, anon-contact power supply apparatus and the like. If connected with anexternal power supply, the electric apparatus operates through powersupplied from this external power supply.

Incidentally, in a case in which the above-mentioned electric apparatusis connected with a plurality of external power supplies, it is generalthat an external power supply connected therewith firstly is usedpreferentially. Thus, for example, even if supply capacity of anexternal power supply connected therewith later is higher than that ofthe external power supply connected therewith firstly, the latterexternal power supply cannot be used, which leads to inefficiency.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view exemplifying the external structure of aportable printer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram exemplifying a charge control system accordingto the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying the data structure of a priority degreetable shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart exemplifying the procedures of a charge controlprocessing carried out by the charge control system of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram exemplifying a power supply control systemaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying the data structure of a supplydestination table shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart exemplifying the procedures of a power supplycontrol processing carried out by the power supply control system of theembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram exemplifying a control system according to theembodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram exemplifying a control system according to theembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment, an electric apparatus comprises aconnection device configured to connect with an external power supply, abattery, a plurality of power load sections and a controller programmedto select a supply destination of power of the external power supplyfrom a plurality of the power load sections, and supply power of thebattery to another power load section except the supply destinationaccording to supply capacity of the external power supply connected withthe connection device

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the electric apparatus and a powercontrol method are described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the embodiment described hereinafter, it isexemplified that the electric apparatus is applicable to a portableprinter apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a “portable printer”).The embodiment described hereinafter is one embodiment of the electricapparatus and the power control method, and structure and specificationthereof are not limited.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view exemplifying the external structure of aportable printer 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, theportable printer 1 is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped-shapedhousing 2. The housing 2 has an internal structure capable of storing apaper roll formed by winding printing papers consisting ofheat-sensitive papers. A rechargeable battery 14, various controlsystems and a printer engine (refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5) describedlater are stored inside the housing 2.

An opening 3 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 2 to enablethe paper roll to be introduced into the inside of the housing 2. Acover 4 is rotatably arranged on the opening 3. The opening 3 is turnedinto an open state or a closed state with the cover 4 open and closed.

The cover 4 is mounted on the rear side of the housing 2 that forms aside of the opening 3. A paper discharging port 7 is formed at a gapportion between an outer side 5 serving as the front end side of thecover 4 and a front side 6 serving as a side of the opening 3 in a statewhere the cover 4 is closed. The printed printing paper is dischargedfrom the paper discharging port 7. An under-mentioned power sourceconnection section 12 (refer to FIG. 2) is arranged at the side surfaceor the bottom of the housing 2.

Next, the internal structure of the portable printer 1 is described. Acharge control system relating to a charge control of the portableprinter 1 is first described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram exemplifying thecharge control system of the portable printer 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the charge control system of the portable printer 1is provided with a charge control section 11, the power sourceconnection sections 12, a charge circuit 13, the rechargeable battery14, switch sections 15, detecting points 16 and a first storage section17. In FIG. 2, solid lines indicate power supply lines and dotted linesindicate signal lines.

The charge control section 11 is equipped with a computer structure suchas a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and controlcircuits (modules, circuits, or components), a ROM (Read Only Memory)and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The charge control section 11functions as a detection section, a selection section and a power supplycontrol section.

Part or all of the functions of the charge control section 11 may be asoftware structure realized through the cooperation of the processor andprograms. Furthermore, part or all of the functions of the chargecontrol section 11 may be a hardware structure realized by a dedicatedprocessor.

The power source connection section 12 is a connection device such as aconnector, an I/F (interface) and a power receiving apparatus that isconnectable with various external power supplies. The portable printer 1of the present embodiment includes a plurality of power sourceconnection sections 12.

In FIG. 2, three power source connection sections 12 a˜12 c areexemplified as the power source connection section 12. The power sourceconnection section 12 a is a connector that is connectable with an ACadapter designed for the portable printer 1. The power source connectionsection 12 b is a power receiving unit that can receive power suppliedfrom a power supply apparatus in a non-contact power supply manner. Thepower source connection section 12 c is a USB I/F that can receive USBpower supplied as bus power. Further, it is assumed that the powersource connection section 12 c can transmit and receive a signalconforming to a USB standard. Hereinafter, if not specified, the powersource connection sections 12 a˜12 c are uniformly depicted as the powersource connection section 12 simply.

The charge circuit 13 charges the rechargeable battery 14 with the useof power supplied from power source under the control of the chargecontrol section 11. The rechargeable battery 14 is a battery capable ofcharging and discharging such as a lithium-ion battery.

The switch sections 15 each that are arranged in association with eachof the power source connection sections 12 enable or disable the powersupply function (power receiving function) of the power sourceconnection section 12. The switch section 15 is constituted by, forexample, a switch element.

In FIG. 2, it is exemplified that switch sections 15 a˜15 c each arearranged on power supply lines that connect the power source connectionsections 12 a˜12 c with the charge circuit 13 as the switch section 15.The switch sections 15 a˜15 c, under the control of the charge controlsection 11 and an under-mentioned power supply control section, switchon (power on) and off (power off) to enable or disable the power sourceconnection sections 12 respectively corresponding to the switchsections. The default state (initial state) of the switch sections 15a˜15 c is assumed as on state. Hereinafter, if not specified, the switchsections 15 a˜15 c are uniformly depicted as the switch section 15simply.

The detecting points 16 each that are arranged in association with eachof the power source connection sections 12 are used to detectattachment/detachment of the external power supply to/from the powersource connection section 12. In FIG. 2, it is exemplified that thedetecting points 16 a˜16 c each are arranged on the power supply linesbetween the power source connection sections 12 a˜12 c and the switchsections 15. Hereinafter, if not specified, the detecting points 16 a˜16c are uniformly depicted as the detecting point 16 simply.

The charge control section 11 detects the attachment/detachment of theexternal power supply to/from the power source connection section 12 viathe detecting point 16. Regardless of the detection method, for example,it is applicable to detect the attachment/detachment of the externalpower supply by detecting power (voltage or electric current) suppliedfrom the external power supply via the detecting point 16. Further, thecharge control section 11 detects the power supply type and the numberof connected external power supplies according to the relationshipbetween the setting position of the detecting point 16 that detects theconnection of the external power supply and the power source connectionsection 12.

The first storage section 17, which is a non-volatile recording medium,stores setting information relating to a charge control. For example,the first storage section 17 stores a priority degree table T1 in whicha priority degree is determined by each power supply type.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying the data structure of the prioritydegree table T1. As shown in FIG. 3, the priority degree table T1contains data items “power supply type”, “supply capacity” and “prioritydegree”.

The data item “power supply type” corresponds to a power supply type ofan external power supply connectable with a power source connectionsection 12. In FIG. 3, it is exemplified that “AC adapter”, “non-contactpower supply” and “USB power” that are respectively connectable witheach of power source connection sections 12 a˜12 c are set as the powersupply types. The supply capacities of the USB power differ from eachother due to the difference inversions of USB standard, and thus thepower supply type is set for each version.

The data item “supply capacity” indicates specification (ampere, volt)of power supplied from the external power supply of each power supplytype. The data item “priority degree” determines priority of theexternal power supplies used for charging. In FIG. 3, an external powersupply whose numerical number of priority degree is smaller is usedpreferentially.

Herein, it is preferred that the priority degree to each external powersupply is set according to supply capacity of the external power supply.More specifically, it is preferred to set priority degree topreferentially use an external power supply of which supply capacity ishigher than that of the rest. The priority degree may be set manually bythe user or automatically by the portable printer 1 (charge controlsection 11).

For example, in a case of the external power supply shown in FIG. 3, thecharge control section 11 sets that the priority degree of the ACadapter whose supply capacity is maximum is highest. Further, the chargecontrol section 11 sets that priority degrees of the non-contact powersupply, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 are sequentially lowered. Through thesetting in this way, in a case in which a plurality of external powersupplies is connected, the rechargeable battery 14 is charged by theexternal power supply whose supply capacity is higher, thereby beingcharged efficiently.

In the foregoing structure, the charge control section 11 executes thecharge control described below in a case of carrying out the charging ofthe rechargeable battery 14.

First, the charge control section 11 detects the number and power supplytype of external power supplies connected with the power sourceconnection section 12. The charge control section 11, on the conditionthat one external power supply is detected, selects the external powersupply to charge the rechargeable battery 14 through the charge circuit13 with the use of power supplied from the external power supply. Morespecifically, the charge control section 11 sets charge current andcharge voltage corresponding to the supply capacity of the externalpower supply in the charge circuit 13 to charge the rechargeable battery14 through the charge circuit 13 according to the set value.

Further, the charge control section 11, on the condition that aplurality of external power supplies is detected, selects one of theseexternal power supplies that is used to charge the rechargeable battery14. The charge control section 11, for power supply types of detectedexternal power supplies, reads out priority degrees set according to thepower supply types from the priority degree table T1. Next, the chargecontrol section 11 compares the read priority degrees to select theexternal power supply corresponding to the power supply type of whichthe priority degree is set to be higher than that of the rest.

As another example of the selection method, the charge control section11 may select an external power supply according to the supply capacityset in the priority degree table T1. In this case, the charge controlsection 11, for power supply types of detected external power supplies,reads out supply capacities set according to the power supply types fromthe priority degree table T1. Next, the charge control section 11compares the read supply capacities to select the external power supplycorresponding to the power supply type of which the supply capacity isset to be higher than that of the rest.

In a case in which it is detected that the external power is connectedwith the power source connection section 12 c, the supply charge controlsection 11 detects the version of connection standard of USB powerthrough the power source connection section 12 c. Then, the chargecontrol section 11 selects an external power supply used to charge therechargeable battery 14 according to the priority degree of the detectedversion.

Next, the charge control section 11 sets the switch sections 15 of thepower source connection sections 12 relating to other external powersupplies except the selected external power supply among a plurality ofexternal power supplies connected with the power source connectionsection 12 to be switched off. In this way, the power receiving (powersupply) function of the power source connection section 12 is disabled.Then, the charge control section 11 charges the rechargeable battery 14through the charge circuit 13 with the use of the power supplied fromthe selected external power supply.

For example, in a case in which the USB power of the USB 3.0 isconnected with the power source connection section 12 c, the chargecontrol section 11 detects the USB power of the USB 3.0. In this case,the charge control section 11 charges the rechargeable battery 14through the charge circuit 13 with the use of the power supplied fromthe USB power (power source connection section 12 c). Further, duringthe period of the charging, if AC adapter is connected with the powersource connection section 12 a, the charge control section 11 detectsthe connection of the USB power of the USB 3.0 and the AC adapter withthe power source connection sections 12. In this case, the chargecontrol section 11 reads out the priority degree “1” set for the ACadapter and the priority degree “3” set for the USB power of the USB 3.0from the priority degree table T1 (refer to FIG. 3). Herein, the chargecontrol section 11 selects the AC adapter of which the priority degreeis set to be higher and sets the switch section 15 c of the power sourceconnection section 12 c relating to the USB power to be switched off.Then, the charge control section 11 charges the rechargeable battery 14through the charge circuit 13 with the use of the power supplied fromthe AC adapter (power source connection section 12 a).

If detecting that the external power supplies are detached from all thepower source connection sections 12, the charge control section 11 setsall the switch sections 15 to be switched on. Then, the charge controlsection 11 determines the number of the connected external powersupplies described above to re-select an external power supply used forcharging. The external power supply of the power source connectionsection 12 disabled due to the switching off of the switch section 15may be excluded from the detached external power supplies. Hereinafter,a charge control processing carried out by the charge control system isdescribed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart exemplifying the procedures of thecharge control processing carried out by the charge control system.

First, if a charging mode in which the rechargeable battery 14 ischarged is set in the portable printer 1 (Act S11), the charge controlsection 11 starts the charge control processing. Herein, the settingmethod and the setting timing of the charging mode are assumed to beoptional. For example, on the condition that any one of the power sourceconnection sections 12 is in a power receiving state, the charging modemay be set. In addition, on the condition that remaining battery levelof the rechargeable battery 14 is below a specific threshold value, thecharging mode may be set.

The charge control section 11 determines whether or not an externalpower supply is connected with a power source connection section 12 (ActS12). In a case in which the external power supply is not connected withany power source connection section 12, the charge control section 11waits for until the external power supply is connected with any one ofthe power source connection sections 12 (Act S12: No).

In a case in which the external power supply is connected with the powersource connection section 12 (Act S12: Yes), the charge control section11 determines whether the number of the connected external powersupplies is more than or equal to “1” (Act S13). In a case in which itis determined that one external power supply is connected (Act S13:Yes), the charge control section 11 selects this external power supply(Act S14). Next, the charge control section 11 charges the rechargeablebattery 14 through the charge circuit 13 with the use of the powersupplied from the selected external power supply (Act S18).

On the other hand, in a case in which it is determined that a pluralityof external power supplies is connected (Act S13: No), the chargecontrol section 11 reads out priority degrees set according to powersupply types of these external power supplies from the priority degreetable T1 (Act S15). Next, the charge control section 11 compares theread priority degrees to select an external power supply whose prioritydegree is higher than that of the rest (Act S16).

Then, the charge control section 11 sets the switch sections 15 of thepower source connection sections 12 relating to other external powersupplies except the selected external power supply among these connectedexternal power supplies to be switched off, thereby disabling the powerreceiving functions of other power source connection sections 12 (ActS17). Then, the charge control section 11 charges the rechargeablebattery 14 through the charge circuit 13 with the use of the powersupplied from the selected external power supply (Act S18).

Subsequently, the charge control section 11 determines whether or notthat the external power supplies are detached from the power sourceconnection sections 12 is detected (Act S19). In a case in which thedetachment is detected (Act S19: Yes), the charge control section 11sets all the switch sections 15 to be switched on to enable the powersource connection sections 12 (Act S20), and then returns to Act S12.

Further, in a case in which the detachment is not detected (Act S19:No), the charge control section 11 determines whether or not thecharging for the rechargeable battery 14 is completed (Act S21). Herein,it is assumed that the method of determining the completion of thecharging is optional. For example, the charge control section 11cooperates with the charge circuit 13 to monitor charge capacity of therechargeable battery 14 and may determine the completion of the chargingon the condition that the charge capacity reaches a specific thresholdvalue. Otherwise, on the condition that a determined time elapses afterthe charging is started, the charge control section 11 may determine thecompletion of the charging.

In a case in which it is determined that the charging in Act S21 is notcompleted (Act S21: No), the charge control section 11 returns to theprocessing in Act S12. Further, in a case in which it is determined thatthe charging is completed (Act S21: Yes), the charge control section 11stops the charging of the rechargeable battery 14 (Act S22) andterminates the present processing.

As stated above, according to the charge control system, if a pluralityof external power supplies is connected with the power source connectionsections 12, the rechargeable battery 14 is charged with the externalpower supply of which the supply capacity is higher among these externalpower supplies. In this case, in the portable printer 1, therechargeable battery 14 can be charged efficiently, and thus time neededto charge the rechargeable battery 14 can be reduced.

Next, the power supply control system relating to a power supply controlof the portable printer 1 is described. FIG. 5 is a block diagramexemplifying the power supply control system of the portable printer 1.The same components as the above are applied with the same referencenumerals and are not described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the power supply control system of the portableprinter 1 is provided with the power source connection section 12, therechargeable battery 14, the switch sections 15, the detecting points16, a power supply control section 21, a power supply circuit 22, loadsections 23 and a second storage section 24. In FIG. 5, solid linesindicate power supply lines and dotted lines indicate controls lines.

The power supply control section 21 has the same structure as the chargecontrol section 11. The power supply control section 21 functions as adetection section, a selection section and a power supply controlsection.

Part or all of the functions of the power supply control section 21 maybe software structure realized through the cooperation of the processorand programs. Furthermore, part or all of the functions of the powersupply control section 21 may be hardware structure realized by adedicated processor.

The power supply circuit 22, under the control of the power supplycontrol section 21, supplies the power supplied from the external powersupply to each section such as the load section 23 of the portableprinter 1. Besides, the power supply circuit 22, under the control ofthe power supply control section 21, supplies the power stored in therechargeable battery 14 to each section such as the load section 23 ofthe portable printer 1. It is applicable that the power supply circuit22 is used as a circuit identical to the charge circuit 13 (refer toFIG. 2).

The load section 23 is a power load section of the portable printer 1.For example, the load section 23 includes a wireless communicationcircuit 23 a that realizes a wireless communication function such asWiFi, a printer engine 23 b that realizes a print function and a waitingsection 23 c relating to the waiting of the printing (job). The waitingsection 23 c includes a memory relating to the waiting of the job and acontrol circuit that manages the memory. Hereinafter, if not specified,the wireless communication circuit 23 a, the printer engine 23 b and thewaiting section 23 c are uniformly depicted as the load section 23simply.

The second storage section 24, which is a non-volatile storage mediumidentical to the first storage section 17, stores setting informationrelating to the power supply control. For example, the second storagesection 24 stores a supply destination table T2 in which a load section23 serving as a supply destination of power is determined by each powersupply type of an external power supply. Further, the second storagesection 24 may be the same storage medium as the first storage section17.

FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying the data structure of the supplydestination table T2. The supply destination table T2 contains dataitems “power supply type”, “supply capacity” and “supply destinationinformation”.

In the supply destination table T2, the data item “power supply type”corresponds to the type of an external power supply capable of receivingpower from a power source connection section 12. In FIG. 6, “ACadapter”, “non-contact power supply” and “USB power” that respectivelycorrespond to the power source connection sections 12 a˜12 c are set asthe power supply types. The supply capacities of the USB power differfrom each other due to the difference in versions of USB standard, andthus the power supply type is set for each version.

The data item “supply capacity” indicates specification of power(ampere, volt) supplied from the external power supply of each powersupply type.

In the data item “supply destination information”, each function of theportable printer 1 and information for instructing whether or not a loadsection 23 relating to a function is set as a supply destination ofpower are set in an associated manner. In FIG. 6, it is exemplified thatfunctions (communication, printing and waiting) realized by the loadsections 23 (the wireless communication circuit 23 a, the printer engine23 b, and the waiting section 23 c) are set as function types. A supplydestination of power is indicated by “o” mark and a non-supplydestination is indicated by “x” mark. The power is supplied from therechargeable battery 14 to a load section 23 relating to a function setas a non-supply destination as described below.

It is preferred that a supply destination of an external power supply isset according to the supply capacity of the external power supply.Further, a load section 23 with such a function (e.g. communicationfunction) that is often used is set as the supply destination of theexternal power supply. The supply destination may be set manually by theuser or automatically by the portable printer 1 (power supply controlsection 21).

For example, in a case in which the power supplied from the AC adapteris greater than the total power consumption of the load sections 23, thepower supply control section 21 sets all the functions (load sections23) as the supply destinations of the AC adapter. Furthermore, in thepower supplied by the non-contact power supply and the USB 3.0, there isa case where it is difficult to realize part of functions (e.g. printingfunction) of which power consumption is large from the point of stableoperation. In this case, the power supply control section 21 sets partof the functions (printer engine 23 b) of which power consumption islarge as the non-supply destination.

Through the setting in this case, the power of the external power supplyis used fully and efficiently, and the functions unrealized by the powerof the external power supply can be realized with the power of therechargeable battery 14.

Further, it is assumed that functions or other load sections that arenot set in the supply destination table T2 are supplied with the powerof the external power supply or the rechargeable battery 14. Forexample, the charge circuit 13 (refer to FIG. 2) is pre-set to supplythe power of the external power supply.

With the foregoing structure, the power supply control section 21enables the load section 23 to operate to execute the power supplycontrol shown hereinafter.

First, the power supply control section 21 detects attachment/detachmentof the external power supply to/from the power source connection section12 and the power supply types of and the number of the connectedexternal power supplies via the detecting points 16 similarly to thecharge control section 11. In a case in which a plurality of externalpower supplies is connected with the power source connection sections12, the power supply control section 21 selects one external powersupply from a plurality of external power supplies connected with thepower source connection sections 12 similarly to the charge controlsection 11.

For example, the power supply control section 21 refers to the supplydestination table T2 to select the external power supply correspondingto the power supply type of which the supply capacity is higher from theexternal power supplies connected with power source connection sections12. Further, similar to the priority degree table T1, a priority degreemay be set for each power supply type contained in the supplydestination table T2. In this case, the power supply control section 21selects the external power supply corresponding to the power supply typeof which the priority degree is higher from the external power suppliesconnected with power source connection sections 12.

Sequentially, the power supply control section 21 reads out supplydestination information set according to the power supply type of oneexternal power supply connected with power source connection section 12or one selected external power supply from the supply destination tableT2. Then, the power supply control section 21 enables the power to besupplied to the power supply circuit 22 based on the read supplydestination information.

Specifically, the power supply control section 21 enables the powersupplied from the external power supply to be supplied to the loadsection 23 relating to the function set as the power supply destination.Further, the power supply control section 21 enables the power of therechargeable battery 14 to be supplied to the load section 23 relatingto the function set as the non-power supply destination. In this way,the power supply control section 21, according to the power supply typesof external power supplies connected with the power source connectionsections 12, switches the load sections 23 serving as the supplydestinations of power supplied from the external power supplies.

For example, it is assumed that the USB power of the USB 2.0 isconnected with the power source connection section 12 c. In this case,based on the supply destination information set as the power supply type“USB 2.0”, the power supply control section 21 enables the powersupplied from the power source connection section 12 c to be supplied tothe wireless communication circuit 23 a. On the other hand, the powersupply control section 21 enables the power of the rechargeable battery14 to be supplied to the printer engine 23 b and the waiting section 23c.

In a state in which no external power supply is connected with any powersource connection section 12, the power supply control section 21enables the power of the rechargeable battery 14 to be supplied to eachsection of the portable printer 1.

Hereinafter, a power supply control processing carried out by the powersupply control system is described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart exemplifyingthe procedures of the power supply control processing carried out by thepower supply control system. In the present processing, the premise isthat one external power supply is connected with the power sourceconnection section 12. In a case in which a plurality of external powersupplies is connected with the power source connection sections 12, thepower supply control section 21 carries out the same processing as ActS12˜S17, S19 and S20 to select one external power supply that is used tosupply power.

First, the power supply control section 21 reads out supply destinationinformation associated with the power supply type of the external powersupply connected with the power source connection section 12 from thesupply destination table T2 (Act S31).

Then, the power supply control section 21 supplies the power of theexternal power supply to a load section 23 relating to a function set asa supply destination (Act S32). Next, the power supply control section21 determines whether or not a function of a non-supply destination isset in the read supply destination information (Act S33).

In a case in which the function of the non-supply destination is not set(Act S33: No), the power supply control section 21 terminates thepresent processing. In a case in which the function of the non-supplydestination is set (Act S33: Yes), the power supply control section 21enables the power of the rechargeable battery 14 to be supplied to aload section 23 relating to the function of the non-supply destination(Act S34) and then terminates the present processing. Further, the powermay be supplied to a load section 23 relating to the function of thenon-supply destination at the timing when the function of the loadsection 23 is required.

As stated above, according to the power supply control system, inresponse to the power supply type (supply capacity) of an external powersupply connected with a power source connection section 12, the powersource connection section 12 selects a supply destination (load section23) of power supplied from the external power supply power. Further, thepower source connection section 12 enables the power of the rechargeablebattery 14 to be supplied to a load section 23 serving as a non-supplydestination of an external power supply. In this way, it is possible tocombine the power of the external power supply with the power of therechargeable battery 14 to enable the load sections 23 to operate. Asamount of power supplied from the rechargeable battery 14 can besuppressed, the drive time of the rechargeable battery 14 can bedelayed.

The structures of the charge control system (refer to FIG. 2) and thepower supply control system (refer to FIG. 5) described above areexamples, and various modifications thereof are applicable according tothe installation conditions. For example, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9,it may be applicable that the functions of all the sections of thecharge control system and the power supply control system are dispersedor merged.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are block diagrams exemplifying a control systemcontaining the above-mentioned charge control system and the powersupply control system. FIG. 8 shows a relationship of a power system,and FIG. 9 shows a relationship of a signal system. The same componentsas the above are applied with the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the control system is provided with acontrol section 31, a power management section 32, a power supplysection 33, the power source connection section 12 a, the power sourceconnection section 12 b, the power source connection section 12 c, therechargeable battery 14 and load sections 34.

The control section 31, which has the same computer structure as thecharge control section 11, controls the operations of the portableprinter 1 collectively. Specifically, the control section 31 controlsoperations of a display section 34 a, the wireless communication circuit23 a and the printer engine 23 b connected as the load sections 34.

The control section 31 realizes part of functions of the charge controlsection 11 and the power supply control section 21. The control section31 includes a storage medium (not shown) that stores the priority degreetable T1 and the supply destination table T2. The control section 31,based on signals input through the power management section 32 and thepower supply section 33, detects attachment/detachment of externaldevices to/from the power source connection sections 12, the powersupply type of and the number of the external devices. Further, thecontrol section 31 detects the version of connection standard of USBpower connected with the power source connection section 12 c.

The power management section 32 together with the power supply section33 functions as the power supply circuit 22 supplies power supplied fromthe power supply section 33 and power of the rechargeable battery 14 toeach section of the portable printer 1. The power management section 32detects attachment/detachment of external power to/from the power sourceconnection sections 12 b and 12 c and power supply types of the externalpower. Further, the power management section 32 functions as the switchsections 15 b and 15 c to enable or disable the power source connectionsections 12 b and 12 c under the control of the control section 31.

The power supply section 33 supplies the power received from the powersource connection section 12 to each section of the portable printer 1through the power management section 32. The power supply section 33supplies the power supplied from the rechargeable battery 14 to eachsection of the portable printer 1 through the power management section32. The power supply section 33 functions as the charge circuit 13 tocharge rechargeable battery 14 with the power supplied from the externalpower supply under the control of the control section 31. The powermanagement section 32 detects attachment/detachment of an external powersupply to/from the power source connection section 12 a and the powersupply type of the external power supply. Further, the power managementsection 32 functions as the switch section 15 a to enable or disable thepower source connection section 12 a under the control of the controlsection 31.

With the structure shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the control section 31cooperates with the power management section 32 and the power supplysection 33 to execute the same charge control as the above.

Specifically, the control section 31, based on detection results of thepower management section 32 and the power supply section 33, determinespower supply types of and the number of external power suppliesconnected with the power source connection section 12. In a case inwhich one external power supply is connected, the control section 31selects the external power supply. Then, the control section 31 chargesthe rechargeable battery 14 with the power supplied from the externalpower supply.

On the other hand, in a case in which a plurality of external powersupplies is connected, the control section 31 selects one external powersupply from a plurality of connected external power supplies accordingto the priority degree table T1. Next, the control section 31 disablesthe power receiving (power supply) function of the power sourceconnection sections 12 connected with the external power supplies otherthan the selected external power supply among the power sourceconnection sections 12 connected with the external power supplies. Then,the control section 31 charges the rechargeable battery 14 with thepower supplied from the selected external power supply.

Further, the control section 31 cooperates with the power managementsection 32 and the power supply section 33 to execute the same powersupply control as the above.

Specifically, the control section 31 reads out supply destinationinformation associated with the power supply type of one of the externalpower supplies connected with the power source connection sections 12from the supply destination table T2. Next, the control section 31enables the power of the external power supply to be supplied to a loadsection 34 relating to a function set as a supply destination. Further,the control section 31 enables the power of the rechargeable battery 14to be supplied to a load section 34 relating to a function set as anon-supply destination.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended tocover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the invention.

For example, in the foregoing embodiments, one external power supply isselected according to the priority degree and the supply capacity ofeach power supply type set in the priority degree table T1 or the supplydestination table T2; however, the present invention is not limited. Asanother example, it may be applicable that the charge control section 11or the power supply control section 21 actually acquires (measures) thesupply capacities of the external power supplies via the detectingpoints 16. In a case of adopting this structure, the charge controlsection 11 or the power supply control section 21 selects one externalpower supply from a plurality of external power supplies connected withthe power source connection sections 12 according to the acquired supplycapacities.

Further, the charge control section 11 and power supply control section21 each may function as a notification section that notifies the powersupply type of the selected external power supply used for charging orpower supply. In a case of adopting this structure, for example, in thestructure shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, if one external power supply isselected, the control section 31 enables the power supply type of theselected external power supply to be displayed on the display section 34a. The method of notifying the power supply type is not limited to thedisplay on the display section 34 a. For example, if the portableprinter 1 is provided with an indicator, the power supply type may benotified through the indicator.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric apparatus, comprising: a connectiondevice configured to be connectable to an external power supply; aplurality of power load sections; a storage section storing thereinsetting information in which a power load section serving as a supplydestination of power is set in an associated manner for each powersupply type of external power supplies; and a controller programmed to:detect a power supply type of the external power supply that isconnected to the connection device; select the power load sectioncorresponding to the detected power supply type using the settinginformation, and supply power of the external power supply to theselected power load section.
 2. The electric apparatus according toclaim 1, comprising: a plurality of connection devices, wherein thestorage section stores therein the setting information in whichinformation on a supply capacity by an external power supply is set inan associated manner for each power supply type of the external powersupplies; and the controller is programmed to: select, by using thesetting information, one external power supply having a higher supplycapacity among the external power supplies when the external powersupplies are connected to the connection devices, select the supplydestination of power of the external power supply according to thesupply capacity of the selected external power supply; and supply powerof the selected external power supply to the power load section that isselected as corresponding to the power supply type of the selectedexternal power supply.
 3. The electric apparatus according to claim 2,comprising: a rechargeable battery; and a battery controller programmedto: select one external power supply from the external power suppliesconnected to the connection devices when an instruction to charge thebattery is given, and charge the battery with the power supplied fromthe selected external power supply.
 4. The electric apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to disable theconnection devices connected to other external power supplies than theselected external power supply among the external power suppliesconnected to the connection devices.
 5. The electric apparatus accordingto claim 1, comprising: a battery capable of supplying power to all ofthe power load sections, wherein the controller is programmed to: supplypower of the battery to another power load section except the selectedpower load section.
 6. A power control method executed by an electricapparatus that comprises a connection device configured to beconnectable to an external power supply, a plurality of power loadsections, and a controller, the method comprising: detecting a powersupply type of the external power supply that is connected to theconnection device; selecting the power load section corresponding to thedetected power supply type using a setting information in which a powerload section serving as a supply destination of power is set in anassociated manner for each power supply type of external power supplies;and supplying power of the external power supply to the selected powerload section.
 7. The power control method according to claim 6, whereinthe electric apparatus further comprises a battery capable of supplyingpower to all of the power load sections; and the method furthercomprises supplying power of the battery to another power load sectionexcept the selected power load section.